Yes, the father of modern-day South Africa has added the latter to his long list of skills and accomplishments – in a sense. With his blessing, his daughter and eldest surviving child Makaziwe (or Maki, for short) and granddaughter Tukwini recently launched the House of Mandela label – an attempt to introduce South Africa wine to a broader international audience, including the all-important market of the United States.

Maki admits she was initially skeptical when the family proposed the idea back in 2005. “Why wine?” she recalls asking at the time. But then she quickly learned the answer: Wine is not only a vital part of South Africa’s economy – South Africa is the eighth largest wine producer in the world and its wine industry employs more than 400,000 people – it’s also a product that speaks to the Mandela family’s history and rural/agricultural roots and its sense of passion and pride.

“Wine is about tradition, culture and customs,” says Maki, “and we at the House of Mandela are steeped in those things.”

Benny Gool / POP International Galleries

President-elect Nelson Mandela at an election rally at Athlone Stadium just before South Africans of all races went to the polls for the first time in April 1994.

The family doesn’t own any actual vineyards. Instead, the winery takes something of a cooperative approach, meaning it buys product from a variety of top South African family-owned wineries, so long as those wineries adhere to practices – such as embracing sustainability and affirmative action – that are key to the Mandelas. But the final product is very much a “Mandela” wine, explains Maki.

“We are what you call wine negociants,” she says. “We source and then we have our own winemaker who blends the grapes in terms of the styles we like.”

In many ways, the focus is on varietals that are hugely popular on the international market – chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, among others. But the idea is to show how South Africa brings a different approach to winemaking from other locales. In many ways, South Africa represents the Old World school of wine – indeed, wine has been produced in the country since the 17th Century. But because it’s now just fully emerging on the global marketplaces, its wines are steeped in New World techniques and taste preferences.

And don’t forget the unique terroir, with the country’s mountainous terrain and warm climate. “We have very rich soils,” boasts Maki.

As much as the family hopes that the House of Mandela will boost South Africa’s reputation in the wine world, they very much consider the label a business venture. “Obviously, we want to be profitable,” says Tukwini, who is Maki’s daughter. But Maki concedes that “right now, it’s a labor of love.” (She adds that about $600,000 has been invested in the label to date.)

Still, some in the wine industry see huge potential for the House of Mandela, whose wines are at various prices — $13-$16 for an entry-level series and $30-$50 for a reserve one. And it’s not insignificant that Southern Wine and Spirits, one of the world’s largest wine distributors, is helping launch the brand in the United States – in fact, Maki and Tukwini were in attendance at the recent Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which Southern coordinates. Southern Senior Vice President Mel Dick says the significance of the family is hard to ignore when discussing the wine – “This is such a great name,” he says – but he also believes the label’s releases can and will stand on their own. “The wines are excellent,” he adds.

But what does Mandela himself think of them? Maki admits he’s not much of a drinker – at least when it comes to traditional dry wines. “He’s always loved his sweet wine,” she says.